What are the medical use of Mandragora officinarum?
In the past, Mandragora officinarum has been used as a strong medicine surrounded by more superstition than reality. In modern herbalism, the medical use of the plant is limited to the treatment of travel diseases, reducing bronchial secretions and as preoperative drugs. Most of the presumed medical use of Mandragora officinarum has been dispersed and replaced by a warning that ingestion of too large the plant can be fatal because the plant is poisonous.
Mandragora officinarum , or is commonly referred, is a native of Central and Southern Europe and it is. family. It is characterized by a large rosette of dark green wavy leaves and thick tastroot. The root is sometimes divided into two and resembles a person, which is probably one of the reasons why the plant has become the subject of legend and superstition. Large purple flowers retreat to a small, tomato similar to fruit, whose seeds and meat contain highly toxic alkaloids.
In ancient times, Mandrake was used before and after surgery to cause deep sleep KVThrough his abilities as a strong narcotics. It was assumed to contain magical forces sufficient to cure mania, convulsions and depression and treatment of fertility problems during ingestion, although even at that time it was renowned to cause madness in large doses. The root was also grated and the juice was used locally to relax rheumatism and ulcers.
Nowadays, it is known that the root of Mandragora officinarum causes delirium and hallucinations, as well as a depressive parasympathetic system and to have hypnotic properties. Mandrake contains a high content of tropane alkaloids Mandragoran, Hyoscyamine and Scopolamine. Other plants containing these toxins are the deadly night Shade or Belladon and Hanbane. Among the effects that these alkaloids produce an increase in heart rate, reduce muscle movements of intestinal tracts, urine retention, hallucinations, seizures and coma.
Atropin and scopolamine are used in modern medicine. Atropine is used to expand pupils and increase heart rate in some cases of heart failure and scopolamine is often used in the treatment of travel disease. However, neither is ingested - the first is administered intravenously and the second as a patch. It has been found that some herbal remedies sold by over -the -counter or traditional doctors are contaminated by the mandicinarum mandicinarum, which could produce serious and even dangerous side effects.